Catholic Identity – 31 October 2019

Tomorrow is the feast of All Saints Day, followed by All Souls Day on Saturday. Staff will gather to pray in the morning and students will have the opportunity to pray in Care group and in the Chapel at lunchtime. On Thursday November 7, the College will be holding a Memorial Mass at the Beaconsfield Chapel to pray for all who have passed away. At this Mass four names will be added to our College Memorial Board – College staff members Ellie Korab (2014) and Lance O’Reilly(2015), and students Nathan Forsyth (2018) and Samira Kach (2018). Members of these four families have been invited to attend. Mass will be led by Fr John Prest, and we will pray together as a community to remember all those close to us who have passed away, recently or historically. Parents are invited to attend, and if coming, please email Deacon Graeme Pender (gpender@sfx.vic.edu.au) by Friday please.

Background to the Feast of All Saints November 1st

The feast of All Saints, also called All Hallows Day, celebrates all saints, living and dead, the known and the obscure. This includes well-known saints like St Peter, St Francis and St Mary of the Cross, new saints like St Pope Paul VI and St Oscar Romero, and lesser known saints such as those who may have led us to Jesus; our grandparents or close friends. Church teaching says that there is a strong spiritual bond between those who are still living and those who have died and are in heaven. In many countries where Catholicism is strong it is a public holiday (and used to be in Australia too!). On this day we pray for all saints and thank God for the lives they have lived and the example they provide for us.

Background to the Feast of All Souls November 2nd

All Souls Day commemorates the faithful departed. This feast day is principally celebrated by the Catholic Church and by some Anglican churches. This day of commemoration began in the Middle Ages with annual prayers for the dead in monastic communities. Commonly known as All Souls, it is usually the day when we remember our loved ones who have died.

Year 10 Reflection Day – November 18

Plans are under way for the first day of Year 10 2020 in the Commencement period at the Beaconsfield Campus on 18 November. On this day Houses will travel off Campus to enable staff and students time to get to know each other, to build positive relationships and to establish the connections needed to thrive. The day is a wonderful opportunity for the students coming from Berwick and Officer to meet each other and get to know each other and their staff in order to create the new cohort for the three years that follow. There will be fun activities, time to meet the House Captains and other Year 12 students who will attend, to meet and get to know the Care Group Teacher, all aimed to build positive partnerships.

REAL TALK:

Our Year 9 students at both Campuses will be visited by the REAL TALK team in the coming weeks.

“Real Talk is all about getting real on the topics of sex, relationships and personal identity. Based on Christian values and using personal sharing from a team of dynamic presenters, Real Talk provides presentations, programs and up-to-date resources. We want all young people to know their true value, worth and dignity and to experience love for all it was created to be.”

Information about the day is being emailed to parents shortly.